Paisley is an energetic 3-year-old black and tan Pembroke Welsh corgi with spirits as high as she can jump. Her bold and confident personality makes up for her small and sturdy frame. Corgis are not a new breed to Paisley’s family, Richard and Julie Storick, of the Esperanza neighborhood.

Paisley is the first female corgi the Storick family has owned and they said the most athletic. She has uncommon black and tan coloring, unlike their previous tan and white corgis and is fast, agile and can jump extremely high.

Throughout the years, the family has owned five Pembroke Welsh corgis and for a short time even had three at once. First was Flash, adopted as the first family pet when their now-adult children Kelly and Kevin were born. After Flash came Copper and Jet. Then a friend of the couple introduced them to a young family who had a puppy named Paisley who needed a good home. The whole family, including the two dogs, met Paisley and there was an immediate connection. Paisley was seven months old when she joined the Storick family and was a blessing to them when they lost Copper and Jet both at 14 years old. Willie, another Pembroke Welsh corgi, soon joined the family, coming from Colorado Corgi Rescue.

“We like Corgis because they are good family pets, enjoy being outside and they do the funniest things,” said Richard.

Pembroke Welsh corgis are famous for their fox-like ears, thick double coats and were known for being the breed of choice of Queen Elizabeth II, who owned 30 in her lifetime. By nature, corgis are happy and attentive dogs, love attention and want to be everywhere with their human family. Corgis are native to Wales where they were originally bred as cattle herders, so it is no surprise that Paisley herds her brother Willie. Because of her constant herding and her speed, the Storicks have considered testing Paisley to see if her skills are truly exceptional.

Staying active, exercising and herding are all natural instincts for corgis, although neither Paisley nor Willie enjoy daily walks, which is a bit unusual for the Storicks as their earlier corgis enjoyed two- to three-mile walks a day. “They are the strangest corgis we have ever had,” said Richard laughingly.

Paisley prefers the backyard. She races around the lawn like an Indy 500 car, then will settle down in the corgi “sploot” position: lying flat on her belly with all four legs stretched out, waiting for the deer to come by.

The corgi breed can be stubborn and needs training and exercise but the dogs are also game for family fun. Paisley dresses for Halloween and other holidays. “She is good at letting you put clothes and hats on her—must be a girl thing,” said Richard. Any stubbornness she may have is put aside at the end of the day when she enjoys cuddling up with her people.

 

 

By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Richard Storick